Hood latch



Nw MEMS @AL aww@ HOOD LATCH Fil-ed March 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l @Mdm Novn '9 1933@ N. A. MEARS Er AL 1,933,921

HOOD LATCH Filed March 29. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 @QN La fab-Wega NOV. 7, 1933. Nl A MEARS ET AL 1,933,92I

Hoon LATCH Filed Maron 29, 1952 4 Sheets-sheet 5 i zg 3 62 JY//j will 111111111111113 A75 af/@JJZJe/WW? J/' y xl N. A. MEARS Er AL. yl

HOOD LATCH Filed March 29, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheeh 4 In We?? 0r/s l Jrw@ fans I A75 Za/ras diff/772W? Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT Erica HOOD LATCH Norton A. Mears and Charles A. Perrnon, Chicago, Ill., assigner-s to Chicago Forging & Manufacturing Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application March 29, 1932. Serial No. 601,823

4 Claims. (C1. 2923-4-21@ This invention relates to a latching means for Like parts are designated by like characters latching the closure of an automobile hood and throughout the specification and drawings. while it may be used for other purposes, it is A indicates a portion of an automobile frame. primarily concerned with the latching and hold- A1 is a radiator housing or shell which may have ing in position of automobile hoods. attached to it an inwardly bent or spaced flange 60 One object is to provide a latch of a type paror projecting member A2. A3 is a cowl having adticularly adapted for use with relatively long and jacent it or attached to it an inwardly bent flange light hoods and the provision of means for preor member A4. A5 is a portion of a fender which venting the bending and distortion of the hood. may or may not be present. A6 is a strip which Another object is to provide means in connecnormally forms no part of the hood and is not 65 tion with a hood latching mechanism for stiiiencontacted by the hood. It is usually present to ing the hood as a whole, irrespective of its length. prevent water blowing under the hood. It may Another object is to provide means in connection have a downwardly bent flange AFl along its outer with a hood and hood latch to prevent or dampen edge and an upwardly bent flange A8 along its vibration of the parts. inner edge. It does not ordinarily serve as an 70 Other objects will appear from time to time in abutmentfor the hood. l the speciiication and claims. Each of the members A2 and A4 carries a hoo The invention is illustrated more or less dia- B having a downwardly facing arm as shown, grammatically in the accompanying drawings, and a further downward extension B1 which may wherein: be at an angle to the arm B. The arm B is ias- 75 Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of an tened to a flattened portion B2 which may be automobile showing a closed hood with the hood welded, riveted or otherwise fastened to one of -latching mechanism indicated in dotted lines; the members A2 or A4.

Figure 2 is an inside fragmentary elevation on C is a hood or cover portion which may be of an enlarged scale with parts omitted and parts any suitable design and may be made of any de- 80 broken away, showing the latch in locking posisirable number of pieces. It may have along its tion and showing the latch operating mechanism; lower edge a curved portion C1 and may be hinged Figure 3 is a generally horizontal longitudinal Vor fastened at its upper edge in any suitable cross section taken at line 3-3 of Figure 2; fashion. n Figure 4 is a generally vertical transverse Along Athe hood member C, preferably adjacent 85 cross section taken at line 4-4 of Figure 2; its lower edge, is a stiflening and latch carrying Figure 5 is a vertical transverse cross sectional member D. It may be generally channel shaped detail taken at line 5-5 of Figure 2; as shown and is provided with a ange D1 and Figure 5 is a plan View of a stiffening plate with a larger flange D2. The flanges D1 and DZ which is embodied in the latch operating mechaare fastened to the hood C bybolts D3 or by 90 nism; v welding or riveting or by any other suitable Figure 7 is a transverse cross section taken at means and the amge D2 has formed in it a Curved une -7-7 or Figure 5; groove or depression D4 to receive the latch bar, rgU-re 8 is arew generally Similar to Figure as will be described below. The depression or 2 Srlowmg aL modled form; groove D4 may be cutaway as at D5 to provide 95 Figure 1s a transverse vertical cross section an Opening through which the latch bar may @lfm 15318. Q glof Fligure 183m 1 k t. be operated. The channel portion of the stifilu level 'rlfrn V'ew O1 e 0C Opera' mg fener D normally encloses a strengthening and man bearing supporting member D6 which may be Li" Fi ure 11 in a view enerall similar to Fi 100 0 uresgz and 8, xshowing agfurtherymodication; g generally Channel Shaped and provtded Wlrh Figure 12 is a transverse vertical cross section downwardly faced and laterally exrendmg flange taken a@ 1in@ 1g 12 of Figure 11; portions D7, a perforation D8 for the shaft` of Figure 13 is a longitudinal generally horizontal the 121331 Opefatlg mechanism and it may have 5o sectional detail, taken at line 13-13 of Figui-e 11; one 0r more riveting lugs D9 punched'out from 105 Figure 14 is a generally longitudinal and verits face t@ penetrate through the mating Opentical cross sectional detail taken at line 11i-14 l'S in the member D. These may be U-DSG'G and of Figure 12; and laterally or otherwise enlarged as at D10 to retain Figure 15 is a transverse `vertical cross section them in the member D and in that pOStiOIl aS taken at line 15-l5 of Figure 11. A shown for example in Figure 2, they serve also 110 a crank section by means of which the latch barv may be rotated. At some point intermediate the ends of the latch bar and for convenience preferably at its center, is located the rotating or operating mechanism.

G is a shaft extending through a port G1 in the hood member C and also through the perforation in the plate DG and at its outer end there is iixed to the shaft a handle G2 by means of which it may be rotated. The handle also serves as a means for raising the hood and lowering it when it is unlocked. Removably fastened to the inner end of the shaft G is a crank ar n G2 which at one end carries a short and preferably inn wardly bent portion G4. This portion contacts the stops D10, particularly as indicated in Figure 2, to limit movement of the shaft handle and associated parts. The portion of the crank arm opposite the stop portion G4 extends radially from the shaft and is provided with one or more perforations G5. In one of these there is fastened a part GG which, at its upper end, may be provided with an enlargement G7 and at its lower end may be rounded or looped as at G8 to engage the bent 'portion E6 of the latch rodE. Thus when the handle G2 is moved, the shaft to which it is attached is rotated. The crank arm G3 is rotated and the latch rod is rotated so as to be moved into and out of locking or engaging position with the hooks B, B1.

In the modified form shown in Figures 8 and 9, a stifener of somewhat different construction from that shown in the earlier figures is used. It is similar to that shown, however, in thatthe stiiener carries the entire latch and latch operating mechanism except for the :fixed hook meinbers B, which are, of course, mountedfon the cowl, the radiator shell, or other parts of the automobile. A stiffening member H is used. It is preferably given achannel shape as indicated and has one relatively narrow flange H1 and a wider ange H2. By means of bolts, screws or other fastening means H3, preferably engaging the flanges, the stiffener H is fastened to the hood C. It might, of course, be welded, soldered or otherwise secured. Throughout its length at suitable points the stiffener H has upturned bear'- ing members H4. They are preferably forired integrally with the stiffener H and in the for n shown in Figures 8 and 9 they are punched out of the wider flange H. They might, of course, be formed of any part of the stiiener as a whole and might be made separately and attached to the stiffener. However made, they form bearing, supporting and guide means for the latch bar E, which is the same as that shown in the earlier figures. The latch operating mechanism the same in this form as that shown in the earlier gures and passes through and is supported in the channel portion of the member H and in the plate D5 as shown and describedin connection with the earlier figures.

As shown in Figures l to 15, inclusive, a further modication appears. In this modiiication, the stiffener I is preferably formed generally as a channel member and may have one relatively narnoiv .flange Il and a wider iange I2; These flanges are fastened to the hood C by rivets or bolts I3, or by welding, soldering or any other suitable means. There are formed preferably in the ange I2 a pluralityoi upset portions I4 which form corresponding depressions I5. These may be cut away as at Isae shown particularly in Figure 14. The

upset portions I4 serve as supports for bearing members Il which carry, position and furnish bearings for the latch rod or bar E as illustrated generally in Figure ll and in greater detail in Figure iii. The bearing members I" are preferably rounded as at I2 to provide a rounded and suitable bearing surface for the latch bar E. The bearing members I7 and I2 are removably held in position bolts I9 which preferably have squared heads Il0 fitting within and corresponding generally in shape to the depression I5 formed by the upsetting of the portion I4. The operating mechanism for moving the latch oar is the same in this form of the inf-Jention as shown and discussed in connection with the other forms. Either the channel portion or some other 'portion of the stiflener I may be provided with a vibration damp# ening enlargeme it Ill which is provided with slopii faces, as shown, and a generally longitudinal .-ression 112 into which the latch bar may be positioned. By this construction the latch bar is held under tension. The vibration dampening piece may be formed integrally with the stiiener I or be inladc separately and added.

. It willbe realized that whereas we have herewith shown and described a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention and we wish, therefore, that our showing be taken as in a sense diagrammatic.

In particular, where we have shown the latch `operating mechanism built into the channel portion of the stiiener and the latch bar built into one of the ilanges, we might reverse this, building the bar into the 'channel portion and the latch operating mechanism into the flanges or for some purposes both parts might be built either into the ange or into the channel, or one might be built linto one flange and the other built into another flange. While throughout the specification we have spoken of channel portions and while the `stirener is shown as having a channel portion, it

might, of course, be given a rounded section instead of a channel section and it might be given any form which would stiifen it and it might even n take the form of a mere plate where such a plate can be made heavy enough for stiffness. For some purposes the groove D4 in the form shown in Figure 2, might be formed at the edge of the flange D2, which could then probably be made narrower, so that there would be little or none o the ilange extending beyond the edge of the groove.

` The use and operation of our invention are as follows:

With the parts'assembled generally as shown, 1

tion to force the hood inwardly and thus to hold it tightly in position.

If now it is desired to unlatch the hood, the handle G2 is rotated toward a vertical position. This movement of the handle rotates the shaft G and the crank arm G3, moving it from the generally vertical position shown in full lines in Figure 2 toward a generally horizontal position shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. As the crank arm moves toward the position shown, the link G6 is carried from its generally vertical position shown in full lines in Figure 2, toward an inclined position shown in dotted-lines in that figure, and as it goes from the first toward the second position, since it engages the portion E6 of the latch rod, it rotates the latch rod downwardly toward the dotted line position of Figure 2, and so rotates the hook portions E2 of the latch rod away from the position shown for example kin full lines in Figure 2 toward the position shown in dotted lines in that gure, and thus moves these portions of the latch rod out of engagement with the hooks B1 and thus unlatches the hood and frees it for movement.

The latching or closing movement of the mechanism is the reverse of the unlatching described above. When the parts are unlatched the handle G2 occupies a generally vertical position, and the hook portions of the latch rod are swung downwardly into the dotted line .positions shown in Figure 2. Rotary movement of the handle to swing the crank arm G3 upwardly carries with it the link G6 and rotates the latch rod to bring itsv hook portions E2 into engagement with the fixed hooks B1 and thus to latch the hood in place. The cam faces of the hooks B1 serve to make a progressively tightening engagement between the latch members E2 and the hook members B1, and they may or may not be used in the second or third form shown.

The use and operation of the other forms is essentially the same as that described above. The latch bar, the xed hooks and the latch bar operating mechanism will ordinarily be identical and their mode of operation will be identical. Rotation or other movement of the handle causes movement of the latch bar so as to move the engaging portions of the latch bar into and out of engagement with the iixed hooks and this method of operation would be essentially the same if the stiffener and the details of mounting the latch bar and operating mechanism mounted upon were varied as suggested above.

We claim:

l. In a hood latch construction of the type wherein an elongated latch bolt is mounted upon one face of a hood member by spaced bearing members, a hood stiffener adapted to be interposed between the hood and bolt member to support the bolt upon one face of the hood, said stifener comprising a substantially rigid channel bar including longitudinally extending side anges connected by a web portion, the side flanges terminating in oppositely directed offset foot anges, one of said foot flanges carrying means for supporting a latch bolt longitudinally of the bar, the web portion of the bar being provided with means to receive and support a latch bolt operating shaft transversely of the axis of the bolt supporting means.

2. In a hood latch construction of the type wherein a longitudinal latch bolt is mounted upon one face of a hood member by spaced bearing members, a hood stiffener adapted to be interposed between the hood and bolt member4 to support the bolt upon one face of the hood, said stiiener comprising a substantially rigid channel bar including longitudinally extending side flanges connected by a web portion, the side flanges terminating in oppositely directed offset foot flanges, one of said foot anges carrying means for supporting a latch bolt longitudinally of the bar, the web portion of the bar being provided with means to` receive and support a latch bolt operating shaft transversely of the axis of the bolt supporting means, said last mentioned means including a stiffening plate housed within the space defined by the side flanges 0I the bar adjacent to the bolt operating shaft supporting means provided in the web portion of the bar.

3. Ina hood latch construction of the type wherein a longitudinal latch bolt is mounted upon one face of` a hood member by spaced bearing members, a hood stiffener adapted to be interposed between the hood and .bolt member to support the bolt upon one face of the hood, said stiffener comprising a substantially rigid channel bar including longitudinally extending side flanges connected by a web portion, the side anges terminating in oppositely directed offset foot flanges, one of said foot iianges carrying means for supporting a latch bolt longitudinally of the bar, the web portion of the bar being apertured to receive and support a latch bolt operating shaft transversely of the axis of the.

bolt supporting means, a stiiener plate housed within the space defined by the side iianges of the bar, said stifener plate being apertured in alignment with the aperture of the web and cooperating with the web to support a bolt operating shaft.

4. In a hood latch construction' of the type wherein the longitudinal latch bolt is mounted upon one face of a hood member `by spaced bearing members, a hood stiffener adapted to be interposed between the hood and the bolt member to support the bolt member upon one face of the hood, said stiiener comprising a substantially rigid channel bar including longitudinally extending side flanges connected by a web portion,

the side flanges terminating in oppositely directed oiiset foot flanges, one of said foot flanges carrying lug members struck from said flange at longiy f tudinally spacedv points, said lugs being bent to form aligned bolt receiving bearings, the web portion of the bar being providedwith means to support a bolt operating shaft transversely of the axis of said aligned bolt bearings, and means to secure the bar to the face of a hood with the web portion of the bar in spaced relation thereto.

NORTON A. MEARS. CHAS. A. PERRNON. 

